When choosing an alternate airport during flight planning, which factors should you consider?

• A. Weather at the destination is the only consideration.
• B. Availability of landing options at the alternate is not relevant.
• C. Fuel reserves are the sole criterion for selecting an alternate.
• D. Weather at the destination, forecast conditions, fuel reserves, and available landing options at the alternate.

Answer: (D)

When planning an alternate airport, you must weigh several factors to ensure a safe diversion is possible. Start with the destination’s weather and how forecast conditions might evolve, because this helps you judge whether you might actually need to divert and how favorable the alternate will need to be when you get there. Then confirm you have enough fuel to reach the alternate and still hold or maneuver if conditions change, with reserves for delays or unexpected maneuvers. Finally, the alternate must offer usable landing options—appropriate instrument approaches, sufficient runway length, proper lighting, and needed services—so landing there is feasible under the expected conditions. Considering weather at the destination, forecast stability, fuel reserves, and available landing options at the alternate together ensures you choose an airport that is realistically usable in an emergency or when continuing to the destination isn’t the best option.